Jan. 11, 2013 9:42 p.m. | Fast-track state legislation to let voters decide in April whether to cut Milwaukee County supervisors' pay from $50,679 to $15,000 a year would also lop some $5 million from the County Board budget - without any input from voters.

Such a big cut - about 84% of the board's current budget - would severely hamper the board's ability to fulfill its role as the county's legislative branch of government, critics of the legislation said Friday.

Such a cut would leave almost nothing for County Board operations because more than $1 million of the board's budget is earmarked for retiree benefits.

"I don't know who is supposed to clerk the (board) meetings or provide any of the research," under such a deep cut, said Supervisor Theo Lipscomb Sr. Part-time supervisors envisioned by the legislation wouldn't have time to adequately research issues in the county's overall $1.3 billion budget, he said.

The board's current $6.6 million budget includes pay for the 18 supervisors and 38 staffers, including policy analysts, committee clerks and legislative assistants.

Germantown's 7-0 Indiana-bound center Luke Fischer chuckles when that idea is mentioned to him, but it has a grain of truth to it. His Warhawk basketball team has established a record of such dominance over the last two-and-a-half seasons (65-2 record) that' it's not enough for the team just to win, but it has to earn style points too.

Take a moment from Thursday night in the Warhawks' 72-51 win over border rival Homestead, a victory that improved the top-ranked in state Germantown squad to 13-0 on the season and 8-0 in North Shore play.

It was the third quarter and a few moments earlier the Warhawks had extended their 44-23 halftime lead to 52-25 and were well on their way to cruising towards another blowout win.

Jan. 10, 2013 12:42 p.m. | The Mequon-Thiensville School District is crowdsourcing the creation of its new logo with a community-wide contest.

According to a district release, all community members, including past and current students, can enter designs. Contestants must live in or have attended the Mequon-Thiensville district, and are allowed to submit multiple entries.

The winning look will go on the district website, letterhead, and be used in future branding.

"The logo currently being used the by Mequon-Thiensville School District has become outdated and we seek an updated logo that builds on the fine tradition of the school district," Superintendent Demond Means said in the release. "We are very excited to see the submitted designs."

The district is accepting entries through Feb. 8 at www.mtlogocontest.com and will announce a winner in early March.

Jan. 10, 2013 11:05 a.m. | Longtime east side business Habhegger Wheel and Axle has moved from the corner of N. Water and E. Brady streets to Glendale.

The business is now at 102 W. Capitol Drive, on the Milwaukee-Glendale border. Habhegger is leasing space formerly used by Mofoco Enterprises, which moved about two blocks north, to 4170 N. Lydell St., said owner Dennis Mabry.

Mabry moved Habhegger because of developer Wangard Partners Inc.'s plans to demolish the former auto repair shops to make way for new apartments and retail space. Wangard bought the 2.7-acre site last summer from Madison-based AnchorBank.

Habhegger, which claims roots dating back to the 1840s as a blacksmith shop, had hoped to relocate near its current shop, but found downtown and east side real estate was too pricey, Mabry said.

By the way, Mabry is now calling the business Habhegger Auto Repair to make it clear it does more than just wheel and axle work.

Jan. 09, 2013 9:59 p.m. | Though Germantown won the North Shore Conference wrestling dual with border rival Homestead, 47-34, Wednesday night, it was Highlander coach Ernie Millard who was the much happier person when the evening was done.

That's because though though his Highlanders had to give up four forfeits to the Warhawks, Homestead actually won six matches on the mat as compared to just four for Germantown. The Highlanders did have motivation, as it was senior night for them.

"We have a couple of huge holes in our line-up because of injuries and so we have to try and work around them," said Millard, "but I was very pleased with how physical and aggressive our more experienced guys were tonight."

The moral victory dovetailed off the Highlanders sound 3-2 effort in the Verona Duals last Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Warhawks, who had come into the meet on a hot streak of their own, took a little step backward this night, according to coach Casey Gabrielson.

Jan. 08, 2013 10:48 a.m. | A proposal to develop 40 apartments in Mequon, along with space for restaurants and shops, won preliminary zoning approval Monday night from the city Plan Commission.

Wired Properties LLC, led by Blair Williams, and Shaffer Development LLC are proposing five buildings for the Town Center area, north of Mequon Road and west of Cedarburg Road, near the Milwaukee River.

The three-acre development site includes two homes, Town Center Mobil and American Legion Post 457, all to be demolished. Post 457's demolition would need city approval from the Landmarks Commission.

In their place, Wired would develop four buildings, with 28,500 square feet of commercial space. Two of those buildings would include 40 upscale apartments, with one to three bedrooms, on their three upper floors.

The commercial space would include a cafe, and a two-story restaurant/tavern, but no specific tenants are named in the proposal.

Jan. 07, 2013 6:06 p.m. | The Milwaukee County District Attorney's office has filed charges against Cecil T. Kahill of Milwaukee, 22, who is suspected in a Jan. 2 stabbing in Brown Deer, according to a police news release.

According to a Brown Deer Police Department news release:

Kahill is charged with attempted first degree intentional homicide armed with a dangerous weapon, domestic violence related, and endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon, also domestic violence related.

Police arrested Kahill on Jan. 2 after responding to a noise complaint of people yelling at 4475 West Dean Road. The call was updated to a rescue for a person who had passed out, and officers on-scene located a female victim who had been stabbed repeatedly.

Jan. 07, 2013 10:19 a.m. | A self-proclaimed master thief and her partner were arrested for theft at Bayshore Town Center in Glendale after an employee noticed glasses missing from the store.

According to the Glendale police report:

The man and woman, both 18 of Milwaukee, were arrested for theft at Sunglass Hut, 490 W. Northshore Drive, at 3:45 p.m. Dec. 28. An employee said they seemed to be “enthusiastic” to buy glasses and when she noticed some pairs missing from a display, she approached them but they fled the store.

When arrested, the woman said she was “a master thief,” boasting that she steals all the time and was upset that this time she “slipped up.” She also wanted police to thank the stores at Bayshore for allowing her to steal so easily.

She also said that stealing and selling what she stole was her only job. When told she was banned from the mall, she laughed and said she’d be back. The man, who was on probation and parole, was also banned and said he wouldn’t return. Police called his parole officer and were told his probation would not be revoked for theft.

Jan. 07, 2013 9:39 a.m. | All letters related to the spring primary must be received at the NOW Newspapers office by 5 p.m. Feb. 1 to be conisdered for publication in our print editions. All letters for the general election must be received by 5 p.m. March 15.

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